Supreme Court blocks Purdue Pharma opioid settlement that shields Sackler family of liability

gettyrf_6222_scotusbldg2028129705753
Ryan McGinnis/Getty Images

(WASHINGTON) — The Supreme Court on Thursday threw out an opioid settlement for Purdue Pharma that would have shielded the Sackler family from criminal liability.

The 5-4 opinion was delivered by Justice Neil Gorsuch.

Under the nationwide settlement deal, the Sacklers would have provided roughly $6 billion to redress harm from opioid addiction and give up ownership of the company. The sum would have been paid out to 138,000 victims and state governments and tribal communities.

But in turn, the family behind OxyContin would’ve received immunity from any future opioid-related lawsuits and retained billions in past profits from drug sales.

Story developing…

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

g_marcorubio_071125899613

Rubio meets with Chinese foreign minister

Joe Raedle/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday after his first meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that their talks were “positive and constructive” and could pave the way for a